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ICANN new gTLD 2026 Applications Reach 1,615 on Reveal Day
ICANN published 1,615 applications for the New gTLD Program 2026 Round on October 7, 2026, from 481 entities after the spring submission window.
ICANN published 1,615 applications for the New gTLD Program: 2026 Round on Reveal Day, October 7, 2026. The submissions arrived from 481 entities after the window closed on August 12.
Breakdown of ICANN new gTLD 2026 Submissions
Of the published applications, 333 targeted brand strings. Sixteen applications were filed as community-based, and 15 identified themselves as geographic names. Fifty-one came through the Applicant Support Program, 21 involved Internationalized Domain Names, and nine covered variants.
Regional splits showed clear concentration. North American applicants submitted 864 strings. Europe accounted for 506, Asia/Australia/Pacific for 218, Africa for 16, and Latin America and the Caribbean for 11.
Initial submissions totaled 1,663. After payment checks, 1,616 moved forward. One later entered administrative review, leaving the 1,615 active applications released on Reveal Day. The 2012 round had received roughly 1,930 applications and ultimately delegated more than 1,200 strings.
Contention Sets and Evaluation Timeline
ICANN also released preliminary contention sets. Roughly 263 strings face contention, involving 891 applications, or more than half of the current round. The largest single set concerns .agent, with 13 applicants that include OpenAI, Meta, and Google.
The Replacement Period for eligible backup strings runs from October 8 through October 21, 2026. String Confirmation Day is set for November 17, 2026, when final strings and contention sets will be confirmed and the Community Input and Objections Period will open through March 16, 2027.
A Prioritization Draw will occur in 2027. String evaluation is expected to take about 180 days before contention resolution and auctions begin. Earliest delegations remain scheduled for the second quarter of 2028. ICANN has appointed independent objectors for the round, and further details on that process appear in the related announcement on objector appointments.
Background and Market Context
The 2026 round marks the first expansion of generic top-level domains since 2012. ICANN CEO Kurtis Lindqvist stated that the applications reflect global innovation in online identities and communities. The organization will conduct evaluations according to the multistakeholder policy framework.
Applicants now face several months of comment periods and potential objections. Contention resolution through auctions or other mechanisms will determine which strings proceed after evaluation clears. The process aims to increase choice, competition, and linguistic diversity in the domain name system.
Frequently asked questions
How many applications did ICANN receive for the 2026 new gTLD round?
ICANN received 1,663 initial submissions and published 1,615 active applications on Reveal Day after payment and administrative checks. The round drew interest from 481 distinct entities.
What happens after Reveal Day for the 2026 gTLD applications?
A replacement period for backup strings runs through October 21, 2026. Final string confirmation occurs on November 17, followed by a community input and objections period that ends March 16, 2027.
Which strings face the most contention in the 2026 round?
Roughly 263 strings are contested by multiple applicants. The largest set is .agent, with 13 applicants including OpenAI, Meta, and Google.
When could the first new domains from the 2026 round be delegated?
String evaluation takes about 180 days. Contention resolution follows, so the earliest delegations are estimated for the second quarter of 2028.
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